July, Week 1

Flowers - Plant fragrant flowers such as sage and lavender to attract pollinators to the vegetable garden. Cut back Nepita (catmint) this week by two-thirds to keep plant compact and encourage more blooming. Oenothera (Ozark Sundrop) can be sheared after blooming back to basal evergreen rosette. No further pruning is needed until next season.

Landscape - Fertilize roses with ¼ cup Epsom salts per plant. Avoid adding other fertilizers to prevent burning of foliage. Pines that are yellowing and loosing needles before the normal end-of-summer shedding time, may benefit from soil sulfur applied to the drip line. Apply at the rate of one pound sulfur per 100 sq. ft. Scratch into soil with garden rake and water to begin the slow migration to the root area. Watch for improved vigor and deeper green color in 6-8 weeks.

Vegetables - Begin the fall vegetable garden. In early July plant seeds of beets, Chinese cabbage, carrots, collards, endive, kale, leaf lettuce mustard greens and turnips. Place a rain gauge in the garden to be sure adequate moisture is being received. Established plants need one inch of water per week. Prevent and minimize disease by installing a soaker hose or watering from below. If watering overhead, complete early in the day so foliage dries before nightfall.

July, Week 2

Flowers - Oriental poppies can be pruned back to the ground after blooming. Keep soil around plants evenly moist until new foliage appears in late summer. Seedpods can be hung upside down to dry for use in floral arrangements. Cut hydrangea blooms for drying, Hang upside down to retain shape and keep blue and pink trimmings in the dark to retain color. Fertilize container-grown flowers by adding compost. Water containers daily or for larger containers, every other day to replenish moisture lost through their leaf surfaces and used for growth.

Pest Patrol - As Japanese beetles emerge, collect in a small container with soapy water during cooler times of day when they are less active.

Landscape - Avoid pruning live cuts on trees and shrubs after July 4th since pruning stimulates growth which may not have time to ‘harden off’ before colder weather. Install plants with white flowers or foliage to brighten areas of deep shade. Water regularly newly planted Clematis. Plant a companion at the base Clematis to keep their feet cool. Spring-flowering Clematis can be pruned/shaped now. Take ripe cuttings of Clematis this month for propagating.

Nuisance Plants - Grub out wild violets to get all the root system. Violets deplete the soil of potassium. Wild onions reproduce themselves by blooming and by producing many bulblets underground. Carefully dig bulblets when soil is moist. Cut off blossoms before seeds develop. Watch for Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) which resembles the growth of bamboo. Yellow to white flowers will be appearing soon. This highly invasive plant forms dense thickets and is spread both by wind-born seeds and vigorous underground stems that reach 60 feet. Control by spraying leaves and slitting / treating stems with systemic herbicide such as full strength Round-Up.

Houseplants - Water Pothos with tepid water. Using cold water will shock the plant resulting in yellow leaves, which later fall off. Pothos can be groomed now, trimming straggly vines to encourage new growth. Trimmings can be rooted in water and planted within 2 months.

Vegetables - Begin the fall vegetable garden. In early July plant seeds of beets, Chinese cabbage, carrots, collards, endive, kale, leaf lettuce mustard greens and turnips. Place a rain gauge in the garden to be sure adequate moisture is being received. Established plants need one inch of water per week. Prevent and minimize disease by installing a soaker hose or watering from below. If watering overhead, complete early in the day so foliage dries before nightfall. Finish planting seeds for fall crops of Bibb lettuce, kale, green beans, sweet corn, carrots, and beets. Choose varieties that are resistant to disease.

EcoTimely Tip - Grow maypopsMaypops (native passion flower) on fences. Deer apparently loathe this plant.

July, Week 3

Landscaping - Avoid pruning any spring-blooming trees and shrubs since this month those plants are forming flower buds for next season. Prune out and destroy browned tips of shrub and ground cover-type Junipers caused by Phomopsis Tip Blight. To minimize this disease, avoid overhead watering. A fungicidal spray can be applied every two weeks.

Pest Patrol - As Japanese Beetles emerge, collect in a small container with soapy water during cooler times of day when they are less active. Check trunks of Prunus species (flowering peach, plum and cherry) for borers.

Nuisance Plants - Wild onions reproduce themselves by blooming and by producing many bulblets underground. Carefully dig bulblets when soil is moist. Cut off blossoms before seeds develop.

July, Week 4

Landscaping - Examine Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) on underside of foliage for small grayish scale. Crawlers are active in July. Spray with summer oil, following directions carefully. Avoid applying spray when humidity is expected to be above 90% for 36-48 hours or when rain is expected. For best results foliage must be dry. Spray summer horticulture oils in the morning when winds are calmest to avoid drift reaching oil-sensitive plants such as Maple, hickory, smoketree, spruce, Cryptomera, many Azaleas Redbud, Japanese holly, beech, some Junipers, and Douglas fir.

Lawn - Avoid overstressing lawns during the heat of summer by avoiding mowing as temperatures reach 90 or higher. Avoid mowing during midday. Remove no more than 1/3 of the blade. Mow lawns at 2 ½ - 3 inches to encourage deeper rooting. Wait until fall to fertilize, dethatch or renovate lawns.

Flowers - Fertilize container-grown flowers with compost each month. Water containers daily or for larger containers, every other day to replenish moisture lost through their leaf surfaces and used for growth.

Vegetables - Finish planting seeds for fall crops of Bibb lettuce, Kale, green beans, sweet corn, carrots, and beets. Choose varieties that are resistant to disease.

Nuisance Plants - Watch for Japanese Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) which resembles the growth of bamboo. Yellow to white flowers will be appearing soon. This highly invasive plant forms dense thickets and is spread both by wind-born seeds and vigorous underground stems that reach 60 feet.

Houseplants - Water Pothos with tepid water. Using cold water will shock the plant resulting in yellow leaves, which later fall off. Pothos can be groomed now, trimming straggly vines to encourage new growth. Trimmings can be rooted in water and planted within 2 months.